Marcus is a 35 year old man, big droopy eyes, wrinkly skin, and a cashier at Busch's Grocery Store. I don't know if he can really talk about someone, who actually does some good charity work, being a "waste of flesh".

I felt kind of embarassed because I laughed the entire time he said that. He just starred at me. I'm not sure if he thought I was on his side, or if he knew I thought he was ridiculous.

"This song here is about the economy of movement needed to type a message into your phone. James Figurine, aka Dntel, aka Jimmy Tamborello, has often used his Figurine persona to sing about technological woes. On the last record he was always singing about e-mail and IM. Now, in the '06, he's moved onto text messaging. He's also struck out on his own. This is not a proper Figurine record, rather a James Figurine solo record. What's the difference, you ask? Well, to be honest I'm not sure. I do here some female vocals here and there, but I'm not sure if it's Meredith Figurine or not. I know Jenny Lewis is on the record, but I don't think it's on this song. Erlend Oye is also on the record, and he sounds great.

What I like about this song it is length. A lot of the early Figurine stuff was very short, not allowing the melodies to develop and sink in. This track rolls in at just shy of 7 minutes, making it nice and long. The usual Tamborello tricks are doled out sparingly... glitches, synth lines, quietly throbbing bass wobbles. His vocals are there too, and they're executed nicely (sort of reminiscent of "Don't Get Your Hopes Up," for those of you playing at home)."

April 21, 2006

Steelcase (The furniture guys, not the library)

Today I signed up to take Fundamentals Of Advertising at the Steelcase Learning Center. They've created futuristic classrooms filled with about 20 projectors, plasma screens, digital cameras and electronic plasma tablets. Here's what they had to say about it:

I am very excited to take this class next fall. It will be very strange to be in a room with so much technology. The buildings look so nice as well, very pretty. I hope the "experiment" goes well. Maybe it will backfire and nothing will ever work. We'll see! I'll report about it this fall.

Here's what the room sort of looks like:

In the presentation the guy showed us these:

Weird, huh? That table is a big pad of paper. It's for group meetings.

Weird Stuff Is Happening

April 13, 2006

School Projects

I have so much work to do now. I have a presentation to give tomorrow (done with it though!) about Relationship Conflicts. Then I have this thing for Nonverbal Communication:

Our project is to take any aspect of nonverbal communication and do something creative with it. I've chosen to make small hand books called "International Gestures". Each one will have common gestures used in the country. I have started the US and S. Korea. What other country should I do? My other idea was to make a CD about paralanguage. TOO MUCH WORK!

The next thing I'll need to do is write and present about "the CLE (Claiming a Liberal Education" at Grand Valley. It's for Research Basics (CAP 115). Shouldn't be too bad.

I actually kind of like making these projects. I'm glad I get to make stuff instead of cramming a bunch of information in my head and then taking a test.

April 9, 2006

Learn How To Draw A Vampire:

Yesterday, while in the library, I found this book, Ed Emberly's Big Green Drawing Book. When I was in elementary school I used to love to look at his books at the library. I never checked one out, or attempted to copy. I just liked his style.

April 4, 2006

"If you were to die tonight, and jesus were to ask you..."

"On That Ol' Rugged Cross" played gently, by the hands of two elderly women. Everyone was silent; heads bowed, eyes closed. I just sat there. Looking around at the unfamiliar faces. I stared over at my Mom. She was deep in prayer. My heart beat in my head. It felt like the first time I spoke to a girl I had a crush on. Everyone lifted up their heads. They put the bread in their mouths and my brother just glanced at me with a smirk. My heart raced even more. Next, the small cups full of juice came around. I tried to quickly pass it to my mom, but she had a set of her own and I attracted attention to the fact I didn't take one. I passed it back and looked down. Again, my brother gave me a weird look. The heads went down again. I looked around. My Mom looked fidgety. I thought for sure she was crying. Oh, she's crying. When she raised her head again, and drank the juice; there were no tears. Good, I thought. The pastor began to speak again, and my heart returned to it's normal pace.

For the past 5-6 years I have gone to some form of an evangelical, christian reform church. Since I was 12 I was told I needed to be saved or else I was going straight to hell. Of course when an ultimatim like that is given to a 12 year old, they are going to pick eternal life in heaven (even though AC/DC says there will be a party in hell). So I prayed "the prayer". I got baptized. I even went door-to- door sharing the word of God/"Good News". I went to youth group each wednesday. I told kids about Jesus at school (though I was never too outspoken). I was a Born-Again Christian. Now, I don't know what I am, at least spiritually. Not taking communion on Sunday felt huge. It was the first time I physically did something to represent my disbelief. I have talked to my Mom about this for months. She thinks I'm going to grow out of all of this...spiritually. I think that I've just grown out of all of this.

Such a good...band? They're a swedish brother and sister duo. They're new record, Silent Shout, is incredible. Get it. It sounds like that really crappy 90's trance that everyone calls "Techno". But, somehow they make it work. It's kind of dark, and really weird.

April 1, 2006

Mid-Summer 2002

It never fails, each summer our power goes out. Generally, it last two days; although, the record is three. For the next few days, us kids spend our time complaining about the heat and absolute boredom of life without electricity. "How did people live like this?", is a very common thought during this time.

In the summer of 2002 our power went out at around 3pm. My parents got home and we went out for dinner. While we were out we ran a few errands and ended up at Target. I asked my Mom if she'd buy me the new Wilco CD, Yankee Foxtrot Hotel. She said, yes, but told me not to tell my stepdad (the usual procedure).

That night, I layed awake in the dark. Just sweating and enjoying one of my new favorite CD's. I just pulled out Yankee Foxtrot Hotel again, and wow.